Nutrafin Cycle

[Corleone]

Dang, that sucks. If you know the proportions you'll need to add, I'd say start the first ammonia dose now, and hope the kit gets there before you need to redose (the first one takes a while). But if you'll have to test to get it right, then you're stuck. Plus, if it's already that late, I'd hate to get started and then have even that little work go to waste if it doesn't come this week, either.

 

[Efren]

get stucked!! please don't say that - hahaha

but in your opinion do you think it's best to put the first dose
of ammonia now - - (you said it yourself, it takes a while to react for the first time) -
my only worry is if the Kit doesn't shows up on time- then that would be
a disaster - -

i believe it's 4-5ppm ammonia - am i right?

 

[Corleone]

Yep, 4-5. I would chance it. It wouldn't be a disaster if the test kit didn't come (at least not in terms of the cycle) - the ammonia would hit zero, you wouldn't know it to add the second dose, and the bacteria would start to die, but there'd be nothing stopping you from continuing as normal. I wouldn't use the bactinettes (if you've got it or intend to), obviously, but the worst thing you could do (provided you know how much to add without having to test to get it about right) is waste a few drops of ammonia. Not a meaningful loss - I got more of it on my carpet than in my tank when I did my cycle. It's cheap and a bottle will cycle dozens of tanks, so losing a bit is trivial.

 

[Efren]

the guessing part(on how many drops) is the tricky/risky bit...
just recieved some posts today from the royal mail and still
no Testing Kit...

so i'm still hesitant of doing it.

 

[Corleone]

If you're not completely sure how much to add, it's probably better not to. If you underestimate, no harm, but too much and the cycle might stall and you'll end up doing a water change later.

Crappy situation - trying to come up with a way you can at least feel like you're doing something... I never really realized just how little you can do without a test kit before.

 

[minxfishy]

According to the calculator at the top of the page :wink: you need to 3.16 mls of ammonia solution to reach 5ppm for a 60 litre tank. Add 3 mls and away you go. I would not add the bactinetes yet as you dont have the test kit, but it will start the cycle off

 

[Efren]

According to the calculator at the top of the page :wink: you need to 3.16 mls of ammonia solution to reach 5ppm for a 60 litre tank. Add 3 mls and away you go. I would not add the bactinetes yet as you dont have the test kit, but it will start the cycle off

yey! it's good to have you around today minxfishy.
seems all my troubles disappearing one by one --

looks like i can start my cycle - - at last!!!!
got one more question though - but i've already post it
in the other thread - - you're gona see it for sure - cause we're the only
people in that thread - -

anyway - -i better check it now - -
cause you've probably answered it already...

BIG THANKS!!!!

 

[minxfishy]

Yes I have no life

 

[Efren]

Yes I have no life

i wouldn't say that - -

you've been a BIG HELP--

hehe - (no life? me too) LOL

 

[Efren]

If you're not completely sure how much to add, it's probably better not to. If you underestimate, no harm, but too much and the cycle might stall and you'll end up doing a water change later.

Crappy situation - trying to come up with a way you can at least feel like you're doing something... I never really realized just how little you can do without a test kit before.

i'm happy to announce - - the API master test kit Arrived Today -- 9:23 LOL
i'll post my first reading - - hehe - -very excited - -need to read the instructions first - -
don't want messing it up - -LOL

as for Fishless Cycling is concerned - - i've read in the thread that there's no point getting the result for pH,
Nitrite and Nitrate YET.. so i'll focus on ammonia FIRST - -

 

[Corleone]

Sounds like your spot on, and I'm glad the shipping delay didn't leave you in limbo too long. Do all the tests once, just to get a feel for the process. You can use tap water instead of tank water for this, since after your cycle your water change routine may be influenced by trace ammonia from the tap, and it'll also give you a chance to figure out which of the two pH tests you'll need to use regularly in the future.